Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Amiga MIDI on the MIST FPGA

Today I decided to take a quick look at the MIDI functionality on the MIST FPGA system. I had assumed it was included to work with the Atari ST core only, but as I found out the MIDI ports work perfectly well on the Amiga core too!


Those who have been following my blog for a while would have seen my original coverage of the MIST system here, which I bought from amigastore.eu, and of course I had it on display at the Adelaide Retro Computing Group meeting this month.

I decided to hook up my trusty Yamaha MIDI keyboard to the MIST to try things out:


For those following my blog from the beginning would know this keyboard from when I tested MIDI using AmigaOS 4.1 on the AmigaOne X1000 way back here.

In this case though, I am using Workbench 3.1 on the MIST with the keyboard connected via MIDI cables. I then fired up Bars & Pipes Professional to try out an example MIDI song:


I am very pleased to report it works perfectly. You don't need to take my word for it though, I uploaded a YouTube video showing it running MIDI from the MIST so you can hear it for yourself:


Have to admit it was kind of nostalgic getting this working as I used to use MIDI on the Amiga 2000HD (which I still have) with this keyboard back in the early 1990's.


At that time I was using Sequencer One, a freebie on an Amiga Format cover disk. So, suitably nostalgic, I decided to try that out next:



I am pleased to report Sequencer One worked really well also with the MIST MIDI ports and my keyboard - no configuration needed:


I then tried out Octamed Soundstudio, which required MIDI output to be turned on in the settings to work, but then worked fine - Octamed can convert .MID files on the fly, meaning I could try out more songs I had in .MID file format:


Last but not least I tried out Music-X, which I had never used before but was pleasantly surprised how nice it was.


I think I might have to play with MIDI some more on the MIST when I have some more time!


For now though I am very happy that MIDI support on the MIST works so well using the Amiga Minimig AGA core. Another great reason to own a MIST!


1 comment:

  1. Great to see Music-X & Octamed running on the MIST! Not being a vintage computer enthusiast, getting an Amiga just to run these doesn't seem like a good idea, but somehow the MIST makes it seem "more rational"

    With a studio full of old samplers & drum machines I'm really loath to open the pandoras box of old computers as well.

    I should really get along to one of the Adelaide Retro Computers meets!

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